Case Study: 3rd party plugins in web design

Identify if any plugin functionality is needed

Identifying the functionality that your clients’ want on your website is an important part of creating a successful online presence. Often times the functionality needed may require a 3rd party plugin or service. A simple, common example of this is a website that accepts money. The website may be selling products or services, but in either case, a way to accept payment is required. A common third party that is included in this example is the online payment processor paypal. Paypal can provide the website owner with a myriad of ways to help them get the payments to paypal. This can be in the form of “buy it now” buttons, to an online form that can be created to pass all data parameters to paypal.

2029 Web Design, LLC recently completed a project for Sam Jackson’s Auto Body and Repair. The requirement for the project was to have the ability for their clients to check on the status of the repair of their car. The third party that was to be involved is a company called “CarWise”.

We had a discussion about the location of this functionality. It was decided it needed to be placed front and center. We ultimately added a CTA (Call to Action) to the home page banner. The page that calls the plugin is also called from the main navigation. The 3rd party plugin in this scenario was integrated using Iframes, as this was the only way the 3rd party service offered integration. At the end of the day, Sam Jacksons Auto Body Repair now has the core functionality desired. Now that their clients can check the status of their cars online, the website is not only successful at attracting new clients, but adds a great feature for those already using their awesome auto repair services.